Newsmakers

--Six young Christians set off without food or water from Adelaide on a 1,060-mile highway trek across Australia's arid Nullarbor Plain to prove that God exists. The six, all from Sydney and ranging in age from 12 to 22, defied police warnings that their marathon was dangerous and ignored criticism from some religious leaders. They will travel without food, water, tents, sleeping bags, money or change of clothing. "We want to confront people with the reality of God, so we have deliberately chosen difficult circumstances," Malcolm Wrest, the oldest member of the group, told reporters. The group hopes to survive by eating berries and relying on the hospitality of persons they meet on the two-month trek.